Composite engraved printing-block.



No. 63!,862. Patented Aug. '29, I899 O, J. RUSSELL. COMPOSITE ENGRAVED PRINTI NG BLOCK.

(Application filed Feb. 8, 1899.)

(Np Model.)

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I J h kwlfi UNITED STATES PATENT 'FFICEQ DANIEL J. RUSSELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO I MONTAGUE M. BEAR, OF SAME PLACE.

COMPOSITE ENGRAVED PRINTING-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Ifatent No. 631,862, dated August 29, 1899.

Application filed February 3, 1899.

T aZZ whom it may concern: Be it known that I, DANIEL J. RUSSELL, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook,

State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Composite Engraved Printing-Blocks, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

In the manufacture of engraved blocks for the printing of monograms and similar work, particularly such as are used for the printing of embossed stationery or the like, it is customary to surround the monograms with a border of ornamental design. Inasmuch as the ornamental border is usually of more or less complicated design the greater part of the expense of the block is incurred in the production of such border.

The object of this invention is to provide an engraved printing-block that will permit the same ornamental border or inclosure to be used in connection with any number of engraved monograms, letters, or the like, so that the expense of such work will be materially lessened.

In practicing my invention I provide the printing-block whereon the ornamental border or design is engraved with an opening adapted to receive a die having engraved thereon the monogram or like variable matter. Inasmuch as the die that fits within the engraved block must be a trifle smaller than the opening of the block in order to permit the die to beinserted and removed therefrom it is found in practice that if the edge of the die and the abutting edge of the printingblock are in the plane of the printing-surface the joint between the die and the block will necessarily admit some of the printing-ink, and thus show upon the paper a faint and irregular line that is decidedly objectionable. To overcome this objection, I cut away the edge of the block adjacent the opening that receives the die, or cut away the edge of the die, or both, in order that a well-defined and clean-cut line shall appear at the junction of the printing-surfaces of the die and block. The hole in the block may be of any desired outline-round, square, diamond-shaped, or

Serial No. 704,399. (No model.)

I the likeand a corresponding shape will be given to the die, and inasmuch as the abut ting edges of the die and block shall have a clean-cut line that will be printed at such point such line will add to the ornamental character of the impression and will give to the work the same appearance as if the monogram and its surrounding ornamental lines were out upon a single block.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of an engraved printing-block embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a View in vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View in vertical cross-section showing a modified form of the invention.

A designates the body of the printing-block, the printing-face of which Will be cut to form the ornamental border a of any desired character. In the printing-block A is formed an ,70 opening a, adapted to receive a printing-die B, the printing-face of which will be engraved with a suitable monogram b or like variable matter. Preferably the die B is formed on one side with a seat 1), adapted to receive the end of a set-screw C, that passes through a corresponding threaded hole formed in the side wall of the engraved block A, this setscrew C having its outer end preferably squared to receive a suitable turning key. The seat I) of the die is shown as exposing an inclined surface to the end of the setscrew ,0, so that as the screw is forced inward the die will be drawn downward and held to its place. By preference also a hole or will be formed through the bottom of the block to permit the die B to be removed when the set-screw has been loosened. Preferably the bottom of the engraved block will be formed with a milled or roughened surface a in order to enable the block to be more securely retained upon the plastic printing-base.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings I have shown the edge of the printing-block that surrounds the die-opening therein as formed 5 with a groove D around the engraved die B, this groove D serving to reduce the edge of the opening where it abuts against the die that is to say, serving to lower this edge of the opening below the printing-face of the die and block. The groove D thus serves to receive the printing-ink, and consequently in the printing operation forms a clean-cut line surrounding the monogram I), this line appearing as an integral part of the ornamental border. It is manifest that instead of cutting away the edge of the block-opening the edge of the printing end of the die might be out away,tor the abutting edges of both the die and block might be cut away, to form the groove D, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

In the use of my improved engraved printing-block for the printing of embossed engraved work the block will be set within the press anda counter will beformed in guttapercha, cardboard, or the like by an impression from the block. After this counter is formed the face of the block will be inked, and the printing and embossing of the paper will then be effected in the usual manner. In the drawings the groove D is shown somewhat larger than is necessary, it being understood that this groove will simply be of suffi cient depth and width to secure a clean-cut line, and thus avoid the faint and irregular line that would occur upon the paper if no such groove were employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'

An engraved printing block having an opening therein to receive an engraved die, one at least of the abutting edges of said parts being lower than the printing-face of the block and die, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

DANIEL J RUSSELL.

Witnesses:

GEO. P. FISHER, Jim,

ALBERTA ADAMICK. 

